Elk Scouting

[Coach]

Years ago, I drew a coveted Unit 1 archery bull tag. I spent countless hours throughout the summer watching bachelor herds, checking out horn growth, all that stuff. I was trying to make some concrete plans based on the bulls I was watching. Well, about 3 weeks before the season opened, all the bachelor herds started shedding their velvet, sparring, and moving off. By the time the season started, there were few elk in the areas the bachelor groups had been hanging out, and the biggest had moved miles away to claim their territory.

 

So, the question is, what good does it do to watch bulls all summer doing something you already know they won't be doing during the rut? Their behavior and range will inevitably change. So why scout bulls during the summer months? It seems to me you need to scout during the rut in years before you draw, so you can understand how they will act, and where they will be *during* your hunt. They always come back to the same places to fight and establish breeding herds.

 

I guess it is just strange that so many guys draw a tag and spend the whole summer watching certain bulls, seemingly unaware that when the rut kicks in, those bulls could be 10-15 miles from where they were summering with the other bachelors.

 

Am I missing something here?

[bonecollector]

2 years ago when I drew the late Nov. archery tag in 6a, I was scouting during the rut and into Oct. The only thing that scouting did for me was get me more familiar with the unit. All the bulls that I was seeing were long gone by the end of Nov. with all the hunts going on in that unit.

[Coues Slayer]

Depending on the unit some bulls move a long distance and some dont move right at first. Specifically in Unit 1 most bulls live on the rez line during this time of year and you can get some great scouting in while glassing the early morning or last 15 minutes of light, BUT when the Rut kicks on , they split. I have noticed most bulls move around 10-12 miles in unit 1. Its best to know where the bulls are during this time of the year and the rut. I have watched them during this time of the year and during the rut and when they shed there horns. You need to find out all phases of there Migration. The more scouting the better, but you need to be scouting year round, but I know thats impossible for most people. Good Luck.

[shanehamblin]

your a lot better off scouting for a large concentration of cows....

[WHT_MTNMAN]

One thing scouting does is get your blood pumping. I have the 3c tag and most of the bulls change habits and location before season starts but all summer it keeps me motivated to keep shooting, practicing and excited to be chasing bulls. Oh and when you get to see a couple real good bulls on camera or something, it just makes it that more exciting.

Like was said before, learn the unit and find lots of cows.

[Coach]

Nice! Good luck on that 3C hunt!

[THOR]

When I scout and find Bulls that I like I spread out around where i found them in the Summer and look for good rutting areas. Look for Rubs from the year before and if you find them from multiple years there will be Bulls in there come September. If it is close to where you were watching your summer heard there is a good chance that they will be there.

 

The hunts are a couple weeks earlior now then most years so that makes a difference, they wont be talking a lot, but are easior to call in. They are still going to be fighting for territory, so a lot of times the bulls are going to come in quiet.

 

i hope it helps! Good luck!

 

[308Nut]

Scout the cows in July and August and you will find the bulls in September.

[SuperiorBowHunter]

Well this is how i see it! It does suck that you put all the time and effort in scouting and to have all that planning switch up on you but its always been that way every year! But you know what it gets you out of the house and gets you familiar with bulls that you want to look out for once the season starts right? I mean I am no great hunter but I will take a day in the hill vs. a day on the couch any day! To me the stresses in the world seem to disapear when i am in the hills chasing game or behind my binos! Keep your head up and stay positive good things happen to those who wait!

[AZelkhunter]

An area I hunt the bulls don't go anywhere they stay within a square mile year round unless snow pushes them out so it was worth scouting for them.

[Coach]

Well this is how i see it! It does suck that you put all the time and effort in scouting and to have all that planning switch up on you but its always been that way every year! But you know what it gets you out of the house and gets you familiar with bulls that you want to look out for once the season starts right? I mean I am no great hunter but I will take a day in the hill vs. a day on the couch any day! To me the stresses in the world seem to disapear when i am in the hills chasing game or behind my binos! Keep your head up and stay positive good things happen to those who wait!

 

You've got that right for sure! WHT_MTNMAN is also on. Just getting out there and seeing them keeps you motivated. Also agree with mthorsrud, tromping around you'll find areas from previous years where rutting activity was heavy.

 

An old elk hunter once told me that wherever you find lots of elk, there are a few areas they return to during the rut, year-after-year. Some are breeding spots, some, usually close by, are fighting spots. I've found his advice to pay off really well. Doesn't seem to matter where they are June - early August. They all seem to congregate at the start of the rut in certain areas, and the winners split off with their herds.

 

I've also noticed that the biggest bulls don't usually 'herd up' that way. They come in and get a feel for who's gonna walk out with the best harems, then spend their days bouncing from herd-to-herd, whenever they feel like it, taking whatever they want without much of a fight.

 

Kinda the old father-and-son bull (bovine) joke where the younger bull says, "Hey pops, let's run down there and mount one of those cows...and dad says, No son, let's WALK down there and mount ALL of them". (G-rated version)

 

Honestly, this thread was kind of a rhetorical question to see what kind of discussion would arise. I doubt that anyone has ever "wasted" any time scouting. Each hour in the field teaches us something, or just helps us get a little more in touch with the "real world" that plays out each year while we are consumed with work, kids, family, bills, all those other important obligations that prevent us from spending as much time in the field as we'd like.

 

Thanks for the responses.

 

 

 

[bonecollector]

Also if your out scouting that means most likely you have a tag and that it always a good thing.